Karnataka

The eye presents unique opportunities and challenges for the delivery of pharmaceutical dosage forms. Ocular inserts of Moxifloxacin HCl were prepared with the objective of reducing frequency of administration, controlled release and greater therapeutic effect. Moxifloxacin HCl a broad spectrum fourth generation fluroquinolone used in the treatment of conjunctivitis, keratitis, kerato-conjunctivitis etc. In the present wok reservoir type of ocular inserts formulated by sandwiching poly vinyl alcohol containing Moxifloxacin HCl in between two rate controlling membranes of ethyl cellulose and PVP-K30. The reservoir types of ocular inserts containing Moxifloxacin HCl were formulated by film casting technique using PVA as drug reservoir polymer and EC: PVP-K30 as a rate controlling material. In vitro drug release revealed that the optimized (FM6) formulation showed a controlled release. In vivo studies showed a release of 97.67% over a period of 5 days with high correlation coefficient  of  In vitro-In vivo release studies. In the present study the ocular inserts of Moxifloxacin HCl (FM6) provided desired drug release for 5 days and remained stable.

Medicinal plants and their secondary metabolites have been used since last few centuries as remedies to treat diseases and disorders. As per WHO report (1993), 80% of world population continues to depend on medicine isolated from medicinal plants. Presently there is an increasing interest in herbal medicine related to isolation, characterization and pharmacological screening of extracts obtained from medicinal plants. The ethanolic extract of Leucas indica var. martinicensis was studied for preliminary phytochemical screening and anthelmintic activity at various concentrations (i.e., 10mg/ml, 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml) by using adult Indian earth worm, pheretima posthuma from in nalgonda region. Phytochemical Screening revealed the presence of Alkaloids, carbohydrates, and saponins. The mean paralysis time and mean death time for each sample was calculated and compared with the Albendazole which is taken as standard. The result was found that Leucas indica var. martinicensis had an anthelmintic activity which was greater than standard Albendazole.

Quinolines are a class of heterocyclic compounds, widely present in nature as quinoline alkaloids. Compounds having 2-quinolone moiety are associated with interesting biological activities such as antimalarial, tuberculostatic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, antidiabetic, cardiotonic and bronchodilator activity etc. The present work deals with the synthesis, characterization of substituted 7-amino-4-methyl-2-quinolone. The synthesized compounds were characterized by the IR, 1H-NMR & Mass spectral studies. Out of 10 test compounds evaluated for their antibacterial activities, four test compounds 3,6,8 & 9 were found to be active against Bacillus subtilis while amoxycillin and gentamycin were used as standard.

In the current status there is no explicit demarcation methodology on finding of substitutes (Pratinidhi Dravya). Thus here an attempt has been made to find out substitute by DNA fingerprinting on the basis of similarity and dissimilarity. In this study two samples Alysicarpus longifolius W. & A.Prodr.- Fabaceae, Desmodium laxiflorum DC i.e. of same family, same genus with different species were subjected to fingerprints. In this data we find a more similarities characteristics in both the plants i.e. up to 63%. As per the knowledge of research scientist this is a first moral attempt which throwing lights on concept of Pratinidhi Dravya (Substitution) in Ayurvedic science.

Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, widely effective in the treatment of ophthalmic disorders like, corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis. In the present study, an attempt has been made to formulate ciprofloxacin hydrochloride as sustained release in situ gel systems utilizing the concept of ion- activated gelation using Gelrite alone and with sodium alginate in combination with HPMC E50 LV. Prepared formulations were evaluated for several parameters like drug polymer compatibility, viscosity, gelling and gel retention time, clarity, pH, drug content, antimicrobial efficacy, sterility and in vitro drug release. Among all the formulations, batches G3 containing 0.6 %w/v of Gelrite, A6 and A7 containing 1% w/w of sodium alginate with 0.5 and 0.75 % w/v of HPMC E50LV respectively were selected based on their gelling properties. The drug release of A6 extended upto 7 h and that of G3 and A7 extended upto 8 h. The formulations showed pseudo plastic behaviour after gelling. G3 showed better stability and clarity than the alginate formulations and was taken for further evaluations. It showed better antimicrobial efficacy when compared with standard. The mechanism of drug release from the best formulation was further evaluated. Hence the developed in situ system may be an alternative to conventional eye drops. 

The purpose of this research was to develop mouth dissolve tablets ofdomperidone andpantoprazole, were prepared by direct compression technique. Pantoprazole inhabits gastric acid formation and thereby it is very efficient for the treatment of gastric and duodenum ulcers. Domperidone, an antiemetic drug, has been used as an add-on treatment in adults and children. The tablets were prepared using microcrystalline cellulose as diluent and  aspartames as sweetening agent along with three different levels of disintegrant. The superdisintegrant used in this study were CCS and SSG. The tablets were evaluated for weight variation, hardness, friability, wetting time, water absorption ratio, disintegration time (DT) and dissolution study. formulation prepared with 30% of CCS showed Disintegration time of 20seconds in vitro. Also the hardness, friability, dissolution rate of prepared tablets (batch F6) were found to be acceptable according to standard limits.

In past there have been many medicinal plants, which have been used in traditional medicines for their antidiabetic properties without any scientific support and pharmacological evidence. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antihyperglycemic activity of the crude extracts of leaves of Holarrhena antidysenterica. The pet ether, chloroform and ethanolic extracts have been subjected to estimate the anti-hyperglycemic activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Blood glucose levels were measured using the commercially available glucometer. Glibenclamide was used as a reference drug at a dose of 0.6 mg/kg. The antioxidant activity of the test samples was studied in the liver tissue of diabetic rats by measuring catalase and lipid peroxidation levels. The results showed that ethanolic extract possessed a significant antihyperglycaemic and antioxidant activity equipotent with the reference drug (glibenclamide), when evaluated in diabetic rats.

Satavar is an important drug which has been used in Unani and Ayurveda systems of medicine since long as an effective aphrodisiac and galactogogue drug. It is widely distributed throughout tropical and sub-tropical parts of India up to an altitude of 1500 m. It is also known as the queen of herbs. It is cultivated in gardens as an ornamental plant. Chemically it is comprised of saponins, alkaloids, steroids, carbohydrates, mucilage and essential nutrients like mineral and vitamins by virtue of which it possesses therapeutic actions such as aphrodisiac, galactogogue, immunomodulator, demulcent and anti-inflammatory etc. Modern scientific researches have also proved its novel therapeutic activities like antioxidant, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, antidepressant etc. In this article an attempt has been made to summarize the immense classical Unani literature and modern researches on Satavar. Key words: Satavar, Asparagus racemosus, galactogogue, Unani, Ayurveda

Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of stems of Cinnamomum zeylanicum belonging to the family Lauraceae. It is extensively used as spice since centuries worldwide. Apart from this it has been widely used for different medicinal purposes in Unani as well as Ayurveda system of medicine. Its trees are widely distributed throughout Sri Lanka, south-western India and Burma. It has been used in traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of various diseases like epilepsy, hemiplegia, chronic bronchitis, asthma, jaundice, skin and gastrointestinal disorders etc. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts shows the presence of essential oils, tannins and mucilage. Recent pharmacological and clinical studies revealed its antibacterial, antifungal, antitumour, immunomodulatory, wound healing and anti-inflammatory activities. This review is an effort to summarize the detailed prospects of ancient literature on C. zeylanicum along with modern researches.

Conventionally, drugs are released in an instant or absolute manner. Nevertheless, in current days, Pulsatile Drug Release Systems (PDRS) are gaining upward attention. Pulsatile delivery is defined as the rapid and transient release of certain amounts of drug molecules within a short time period immediately after a predetermined off-release period, i.e., lag time. PDRS can be classified in single and multiple pulse systems. This system provides spatial and temporal delivery of the drug. These systems are designed according to the circadian rhythm or biological clock of the body. These deliver the drug at the right time and at the right place and in the right amount thus increasing patient compliance. Pulsatile systems are beneficial for drugs where night time dosing is required, such as anti-asthmatic and anti-arrhythmic drugs where the disease severity is time dependent. This concept has several advantages, notably maximum therapeutic benefit, minimum harm, improved patient convenience and compliance. Pharmacists must realize the need to develop and dispense such medications having potential therapeutic benefit. The current article focuses on the diseases requiring PDDS, methodologies involved for the existing systems, and PDDS product currently available in the market.